Velocipede-saddle



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. T. WARWICK. VBLOGIPEDB SADBLE No. 427,488. Patented May 8, 1890.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

` G. T. WARWICK. VELOGIPEDB SADDLE.

No. 427,488. Patented May 6, 1890.

d UNITED STATES PATENT GEORGE T. VARVIOK, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

VELOClPEDE-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,488, dated May 6, 1890. Application lecl March 17, 1890. Serial Fo, 344,209. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. WARWICK, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Saddles for Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention in saddles for velocipedcs has mainly for its object the construction of seat appliances which may be adjust-ed as to the parts thereof, whereby, first, either end of the saddle may be higher or lower relatively to its other end, so that the saddle top or cover may be maintained more or less nearly level or may incline downwardly from front to rear, or vice versa, and, secondly, whereby the saddle-frame maybe rendered extensible as to the relation of its front and rear coversupporting portions, so that the cover may be put under any desired tension.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for the support of the forward end of the saddle-cover that while insuring all necessary stiffness or tension throughout the length of the cover imparts to the forward part of the said cover yielding or deflecting characteristics for insuring the increased comfort of the rider.

Other objects of the invention are the production of a saddle l that will be efficient, practicable, and economical of construction and durable under protracted use; and to t-he attainment of the ends above mentioned the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, all substantially as hereinafter described, an d pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of this in vention are exhibited.

The same characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views.

The drawings in Sheet 1 represent the saddle and parts thereof as especially designed for use for a safety-bicycle, while in Sheet 2 the saddle is designed for use on what is styled the ordinary bicycle. Figure l is a plan view of the under side of the saddle. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the saddle, the line of section being centrally longitudinally thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective repre sentation of the spriiig-supporting parts of the saddle, such parts heilig' shown as disengaged from eachother. Fig. l is a perspective view of a one-end supportingspring of slightly-modified construction. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a sectional elevation of a saddle similar to and having the same capabilities as the one shown in Sheet 1, differing therefrom only as to the detail construction of certain ele ments. Fig. 6 is a perspective representation of portions of the saddle last above mentioned.

The frame of the saddle comprises supports at its front and rear ends for the cover d, the rear of which supports consists of a spring or a rigid part having a spring reaction, or is spring constrained in its normal supporting position, and the other support consists of a spring to one end of which the forward extremity of the cover by its under side is secured either directly or through the interposition of a lilik.

The rear support A, as shown in Sheets 1 and 2 of the drawings, is vertically adjustable on its holder B, and may be of various constructions. The spring-support shown at both ends of the saddle in Sheet 1 of the drawings and employed at one end of the saddle in Sheet 2 consists of a single piece of suitable large sprin g-wi re having its intermediate portion 10 forming the part on which the cover is directly attached, and having each of its terminal portions formed into one or more coils 12v 12, and their extremities are continued from said coils in the separated legs 13 13. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, the terminal portions next to the said intermediate support-ing part 10 each have the sharp return-bends, whereby the said part 10 is presented, as it were, from the extremity of two outlying hooks, so that its engagement with the U-shaped cantle d may be more certain and effective. The clamping device for the legs of the said spring A consists, first, of the main socketcd block or plate f, the sockets 11 near the extremity thereof being vertical and separated corresponding to the distance between the said legs 13 13, and through the same side ofboth socket-walls are horizontal perforations 9,leading to said sockets, and, secondly, the clamping plate g, provided with the separated horizontal studs 14 14,

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adapted to enter the said perforations and bear upon the side of the legs when the latter are entered into the sockets, together with the screw m, for drawing the clamping-plate toward the main block or plate and confining it in place so that its studs have a direct and effective grip or bite on the legs. The said main holder-plate j' is secured on the suitable part of the machine in any approved manner. In Fig. 2 it is shown as secured on the horizontal arm 15 of the saddle-post O by providing a sliding collar and means for securing same in adjustment on the said arm, said collar being upwardly extended in a platform-like part 16, provided with the parallel ribs 1'7 to lie outside of and engage the edges of the said plate f to prevent any swinging movement of the latter, and a bolt or screw Z passes through the said plate into the collar. l

By providing a rear support such as described, and securing a hook or loop h under the saddle-cover at the forward end thereof, to one end of which the end of the link is eugaged, the other end of the link being secured to a suitable part or extension of the machine-frame, very satisfactory capabilities are imparted to the seat-that is to say, the saddle, while sufficiently iirm, hasa deflection and retraction throughout its entire length, with a somewhat increased degree of deflection at the forward link-supported part. This feature of increased deliection in the forward part ofthe seat is one which renders the saddle of great ad vantage to the rider, as the constant abrasion or attrition at the peak of the saddle, as heretofore, where such portion was rigid, is in a large measure avoided, and on desiring to give such a pitch or inclination to the saddle as to best adapt it to the comfort of the rider the rear spring-support may be vertically moved either to raise or lower it.

The holder-plate is formed in two members, the one being longitudinally adjustable on the other, and upon a suitable upward extension formed on or attached to the one member the forward extremity of the cover is supported. As shown in the drawings, the platelike member f is provided with upwardly-extending ribs 18 18 to constrain the other member j in longitudinal alignment, and the part f in its horizontal base has a longitudinallyarranged series of apertures or perforations 20. The` member j is provided with a downwardly-extending spur 21, which is adapted to iit in any one of the said perforations 20, and when in such engagement the one member is held against longitudinal movement on the other. The member j is longitudinally slotted, as shown at 22, through which a bolt 23 passes that also enters with a screw engagement the hole 24 in the main'holder part f. The outer or forward extremity of the movable part is provided at its extremity, similarly to the said part f, with the studprovided clamping-plate g and coniiningscrew on, and another supporting-spring A similar to the one A, when such a spring is used is by its legs held in the sockets in said extremity. In the composition of the saddle, as shown in Sheet 1, the upper, intermediate, and horizontal portion of the spring-support A carries the forward end of the link l). 'Io put the desired tension on the cover, the screw 23 is loosened, so that the part j may be raised to free its spur 21 from its engagement with the one of the perforations in which it may happen to lie, and then sliding forward the part j until its spur may fall into one of the forward perforations the screw is again turned down, and in this saddle (illustrated in Sheet l) there is a capability for a movement of the parts supporting both ends of the seat, whereby the distance between the front and rear engaging and supporting points of the cover may be varied in any such degree as is necessary to insure the proper tension on the saddle-cover.

In Fig. 4 the spring-support, in lieu of having its legs pass adjustably through respective and separate sockets 11 of the holderpart f, has the legs 13 confined against movement on an interposed car1ying-block,which in turn is suitably held onthe holder part.

I believe that I am the first to devise a saddle which comprises supports at its front and rear ends for the cover, one of which supports consists of a spring having a vertical deflection and the other support consisting of a part which is essentially spring-constrained in its normal supporting position and capable of a vertical deiiection, (either by being in itself a spring or a rigid part receiving th rough a suitable medium a spring stress for its stated maintenance,) and said front and rearsup ports being mounted on-a carrying-holder which is longitudinally extensible or Vadjustable, whereby said cover and supports may be moved toward and from each other; and therefore` in order to make `clear that the construction of such saddles is not necessarily limited to the particular construction of end trough-openin g being more or less nearly vertical, and is provided through its side walls with opposing series of holes o o. The oneend support for the cover consists of a rigid arm p, extending obliquely outwardly in the longitudinal line of the saddle, to the upper end of which the end of the cover is attached. Said arm p is, by a removable bolt or pin q, which passes laterally through its lower end and also through the side-wall holes of the .WMAM I IOO IIO

y trough-shaped extremity of the holder member j, prevented from any bodily downward movement. Frein the fact that there is a spring-support at the other end of the saddle to which the respective end of the cover is connected, and 'that the carrying member j for the arm p is movable on the member f, carrying the spring, when said member j is moved sufficiently outward on its fellow to put the proper and considerable degree of tension on the cover, the cover, exerting a draft in the longitudinal line of the saddle, draws the oblique arm p forwardly as far as the same is permitted to be swung, it being noted that a portion t of the inner extremity of the arm p is formed to act as a stop by its abutment upon the end wall a of the troughlshaped member j, and normally the forward spring, through the medium of the cover, imparts a spring reaction to the said oblique arm sufficient to resist in the proper degree the weight on the rear end of the saddle; but in the use of a saddle on a velocipede in the event of the vehicle meeting with an unusual obstruction or otherwise receiving a sudden shock the saddle may have an easy yielding motion both at its front and rear end, there being no impediment to the downward swinging of the oblique supporting-arm when sufficient stress is imparted thereto to overcome the spring reaction thereto imparted through the cover by the other end supporting-spring.

I do not claim that I am the first to form a saddle having front and rear supports capable of a spring deflection, and either or both thereof vertically adjustable; but I do claim that I am the iii-st to equip a saddle at once with front and rear supports capable of a deflection against spring constraint when carrying members for the supports are provided which are longitudinally extensible or adjustable the one upon the other'.

What I claim as my invention is-` l. In a saddle for a velocipede, the combination, with the cover having a cantle, of a spring-support for one end of the cover, consisting of a single piece of springwire having a horizontal intermediate portion l0 to engage said cantle, the terminal portions thence being extended inwardly a short distance and then returned', substantially as shown, and then formed into the coils l2 l2, the extremities being extended forming the legs, and a suitable support for said legs, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a springsupport for a saddle-cover having legs, of a holder therefor, provided with the sockets 13 13 to receive said legs, having holes leadingl thereto laterally through the walls thereof, and a clamping-plate provided with studs adapted to enter said holes and bear upon the legs within the sockets, and an appliance for conlining said clamping-plate upon the holder, substantially as set forth. Y

3. In a saddle for velocipedes, a holder carrying at its ends supports for the extremities of the cover, capable of vertical deflection against spring constraint, said holder being formed in two members, the one longitudinally adjustable on the other, and one of said supports being vertically adjustable on its respective carrying member, for the'purpose set forth.

et. In a saddle for veloeipedes, a holder carrying at its ends supports for the extremities of the cover, said holder being formed in two members, the one longitudinally movable on the other, one thereof being provided with a series of apertures 2O and the other provided with a spur 2l, adapted to engage either of said apertures, and a confiningscrew, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a saddle for velocipedes, aholder carrying at its ends supports for the extremities of the cover, said holder being formed in two members, the one longitudinally movable on the other, one thereof being provided with the side ribs 18 and a series of apertures 2O and the other provided with a spur 2l,` adapted to engage either of said apertures, and a confining-screw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

G. In a saddle for velocipedes, in combination, a holder consisting of two members, the one longitudinally adjustable on the other, and each carrying at its outer end a springconstrained cover-support, and the cover by its rear end supported on the rear support, and having on the under side of its forward extremity a link which by one end is connected thereto and by its other end is hung to the upper extremity of the forward support.

GEO. T. VARIVICK.

Nlfitnesses:

WM. S. BELLows, J. D. GARFIELD.

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